Headliner for convertible vehicle

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a convertible vehicle comprising a mobile roof which is held by means of lateral bars in such a way that it can move in relation to the vehicle body, and comprises a lining layer, i.e. a headliner, facing the passenger compartment. Said vehicle is embodied in such a way that, when the roof is closed, the outer transversal edges of the headliner extend below lateral profiled elements and against same, said profiled elements being used as carriers for seals for side window panes.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application is the United States national phase application of Patent Cooperation Treaty Application No. PCT/DE2008/000917, filed May 31, 2008, which claims priority from German patent application No. DE 10 2007 028 907.5, filed Jun. 22, 2007, the entire content of both of which are incorporated herein by reference,

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a convertible vehicle having a roof which is movably held via lateral linkage parts and which includes an inner lining facing the passenger compartment in accordance with the preamble of claim 1 or of claim 4 as well as to an associated movable vehicle roof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A number of convertible vehicles are known whose roofs respectively have a separate cover liner, a so-called inner lining, facing the passenger compartment. In this respect, there is a conflict in that the inner lining should have as uniform and as large an areal effect as possible when the roof is closed, on the one hand, but must become narrower on the folding in of the roof such that it releases the vertical planes of movement of lateral linkage parts, which hold the roof, and cannot be pinched between inwardly folded linkage parts.

DE 10 2005 042 017 A1 shows an inner lining which is areally connected in its outer transverse marginal region to pivot flaps which are disposed thereabove and which can be folded inwardly about axes disposed lengthways to the vehicle. In this respect, however, a sharp kink results in the inner lining which can lead over time to a visible line therein, in particular when said inner lining is made of high-quality material such as Alcantara. In addition, such a design requires a plurality of springs for the movement of the pivot flaps which engage through the inner lining in the inwardly folded state so that associated cut-outs therein have to be present between flaps following one another and substantially disturb the desired uniform appearance of the inner lining.

It is the underlying problem of the invention to achieve an improvement here.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention solves this problem by a motor vehicle having the features of claim 1 or having the features of claim 4 or of claim 5, which can be realized individually or in combination with those features of at least one of the further independent claims, as well as by a vehicle roof having the features of claim 14. Advantageous embodiments of the subject matter of the invention result from the further claims 2, 3 and 6 to 13.

In the embodiment in accordance with claim 1, a maximized width of the inner lining is achieved by the extent of the inner lining up to and below lateral sections which provide a seal with respect to side panes with a closed roof. These sections form a frame for the inner lining due to the contact of the inner lining at these sections. The inner lining can be tensioned freely and without support transversely between these marginal supports formed by the sections. This provides a freely hanging and kink-free extent of the inner lining between the outer longitudinal frames. It is thereby perceived by the occupants as a freely hanging cover over its total clear width between the frames. No kink points occur.

In this respect, provision is made by a stable design of the inner lining, which is drawn particularly far transversely outwardly, that the outer transverse margin of said inner lining engages into a channel of the lateral sections which is directly adjacent to an outer limb of the sections which carries a seal toward side panes. The gap between the outer transverse margin of the inner lining in the transverse direction with respect to the seal toward the side panes can thereby be particularly small and can advantageously amount to less than five millimeters.

It is achieved in the embodiment in accordance with claim 4 that the inner lining produces a uniform area, which is as large as possible, not only in the transverse direction, but also in the longitudinal direction. Ideally, an area of the inner lining which is continuous outside the rear window and is tensioned free of interruption is made possible from the windshield frame up to the rear end of the roof and respectively up to a few millimeters toward the side panes.

If, in accordance with the embodiment of claim 5, the inner lining is held laterally over at least a part of its longitudinal extent via clamping elements which engage beneath lateral linkage parts and which run around from laterally outwardly, it is not only possible to pull the inner lining far to the outside with a closed roof, but also to effect a retraction of the inner lining into the transverse space between the lateral linkage parts on an inward folding of the roof by relaxing the clamping elements in order thus to avoid any interference in the inward folding of the linkage parts.

The clamping elements can engage from the outside into sections which are carriers of seals for sealing toward side panes. The wide transverse tensioning of the surface of the inner lining is supported by this pulling from the outside.

For this engagement from the outside, the sections advantageously have an outer limb for the holding of the seal and spaced apart therefrom a further inwardly disposed limb, with the inner limb being engaged below by the inner lining and its margin engaging into a downwardly open channel between the outer limb and the inner limb and with bores or similar cut-outs being able to be formed in hidden form for the clamping elements here.

They can be formed by pulling cables and can in particular extend such that they relax automatically on a starting inward folding of the roof and the corresponding displacement of the roof linkage parts.

A plurality of clamping elements secures an even introduction of pulling force onto the closed inner lining.

If the roof has at least one arched guide surface at its side facing the passenger compartment in the near region of each transverse margin for the shaping contact of the inner lining thereat, the clamping elements do not have to be distributed over the total longitudinal extent of the roof, but rather only in those regions in which a special need results on the inward folding for the retraction of the inner lining in the transverse direction, in particular in the region fat the center with respect to the longitudinal extent.

The inner lining is advantageously movable over the guide surface fixedly connected to the outer skin of the roof or to linkage parts on the closing of the roof and can thereby achieve good tension; the guide surface can, for example, be fixedly connected to a front plate part, for instance, of a retractable hard top.

Further advantages and details result from an embodiment of the subject matter of the invention shown in the drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 the upper region of a vehicle in accordance with the invention including the movable roof in a side view with a closed roof;

FIG. 2 a section along the line II-II in FIG. 1 with a guide surface shaping the inner lining;

FIG. 3 a view of the left hand roof region from below;

FIG. 4 a similar view to FIG. 3, but after disassembly of the inner lining;

FIG. 5 a similar view to FIG. 2, but in an alternative embodiment in which the guide surface is held at a front linkage part;

FIG. 6 a similar view to FIG. 5, but in an alternative embodiment in which the guide surface is held at a front plate part of the roof;

FIG. 7 a perspective view obliquely from the front left of the roof on its starting opening movement;

FIG. 8 the center and rear regions of the roof during its opening from similar perspectives as in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 a similar view to FIG. 8 with a further progressing roof opening;

FIG. 10 a similar view to FIG. 9 with a further progressing roof opening, approximately at the maximum tensioned position of the pulling cables tensioning the inner lining;

FIG. 11 a similar view to FIG. 10 with a further progressing inward roof folding and with relaxing pulling cables;

FIG. 12 a detailed view of the extent of the pulling cable from a rear connection around a linkage part to a further connection.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A convertible vehicle 1 in accordance with the invention can, as shown in FIG. 1, include a movable roof 2 having a plurality of solid roof parts 3, 4, 5, a so-called retractable hard top (RHT). Alternatively, a soft top covered by a covering is also possible.

In both cases, the roof 2 is movably held via lateral linkage parts 6, 7, 8, 9. They can be formed in different numbers and shapes depending on the roof shape and on the roof size. They start from a main bearing H arranged in the rear region of a vehicle body 10 and one component thereof extends in the longitudinal vehicle direction up to and below the frontmost roof part, which is here provided with the reference numeral 3.

The roof 2 is furthermore provided with a cover layer 12, a so-called inner lining, facing the passenger compartment 11 and visible from there. Said cover layer can also include further insulating layers and extends over the total roof width with a closed roof 2. In this respect, the outer transverse margins 13 of the inner lining 12 engage so far transversely outwardly that they engage beneath the linkage parts 6, 7, 8, 9 and cover them visually. The transverse margins 13 in this respect reach up to and below lateral sections 14 which serve as carriers of seals 15 toward side panes 16. A plurality of sections 14 which follow one another in flush manner are therefore provided which can fold inwardly toward one another on an opening of the roof. The inner lining 12 in this respect contacts the sections 14 and engages into them so that they serve as lateral frames for the inner lining 12 and, in a dual function, not only provide a seal toward the side panes 16, but also tension the inner lining 12. The latter can thus hang freely between the lateral sections 14.

To enable this tensioning of the inner lining in the transverse direction, the outer transverse margin 13 of the inner lining 12 engages, with a closed roof 2, into a downwardly open longitudinal channel 17 of these sections 14. It is disposed between an inner limb 18 and an outer limb 19 of the sections 14, said outer limb carrying the seal 15, and is thus directly adjacent to this outer limb 19. The outer transverse rim 13 of the inner lining 12 thereby has a transverse spacing with respect to the sealing 15 toward the side panes 16 of less than 5 millimeters in the transverse direction (FIG. 2). The inner lining 12 adjoins the side panes 16 almost free of any gap.

The minimized marginal gap can be formed continuously and without interruptions of the longitudinal extent over the total longitudinal region of the inner lining 12 between a front windshield frame 19 and a rear window 20 at its transverse rims 13. The inner lining 12 engages over its total extent up to and below the lateral sections 14 and contacts them, but is releasable from them at least regionally on the opening of the roof so that transverse incisions or similar interruptions of the inner lining 12 are completely avoidable in the region of joints of the linkage parts and the inner lining is given its visually advantageous design which is continuous over a large area and provides security against interference. Any pivot flaps or mutually separate material portions for the linkage covering are completely dispensable. The visual impression from the passenger compartment 11 is decisively improved.

The inner lining 12 is held laterally over at least a part of its longitudinal extent via clamping elements 21, 22, 23, 31 which engage below lateral linkage parts 6, 7, 8, 9 and run around from laterally outwardly. The covering of the linkage parts is thereby reliably secured. Nevertheless, on the inward folding of the roof the inner lining 12 can be pulled so far transversely inwardly and can thereby release from the linkage parts that the latter can fold inwardly toward one another without pinching the inner lining 12.

The clamping elements 21, 22, 23, 31 are here formed by elastic pulling cables—possibly with separate spring elements. The clamping elements 21, 22, 23, 31 each start from a connection point 25, 26, 27 fixed with respect to the roof—only indicated for the rear three clamping elements 21, 22, 23 here—in the near region of a rear main bearing H for connection of the linkage parts 6, 7, 8, 9 (a closer connection point with a length reservoir, for instance via a coil, is also possible), run through the longitudinal passage 17 from the inside to the outside via cut-outs 24, run outwardly around the linkage parts 6, 7, 8, 9 and engage through eyelets 28 of the inner lining 12 at the marginal side. From there, the cables 21, 22, 23 engage from the outside into the longitudinal passage of the lateral sections 14 via the bores 24 (FIG. 11) and run longitudinally to the extent of the roof to a common connection in the rear roof region in the near region of a main bearing H. These clamping cables 21, 22, 23, three or more here, thereby pull the inner lining 12 into the longitudinal passage 17 at each transverse outer rim on the closing of the roof. A clamping cable extending longitudinally in a side bead 29 of the inner lining 12 is moreover forced from its uninfluenced extent 30 (FIG. 1) into the engagement position at the sections 14. A small number of clamping cables is also possible depending on the extent of the roof.

The roof 2 does not have to be able to rise from the sections 14 in the described manner over its total longitudinal extent, but it can rather engage fixedly into the channel 17 of the section 14 in the front region before the first joint between the linkage parts 6, on the one hand, and 7 and 8, on the other hand, and in this respect can be laid, in particular pulled in tensioning manner, for shaping transversely outwardly over an arched guide surface 32, for example made of wire or plastic, arranged in the near region of each transverse margin 13. Provided that the inner lining 12 is movable on the closing of the roof 2 over the guide surface 32 fixedly connected to the outer skin of the roof or to an upper hoop of the roof 2 (FIG. 2), a fold-free transverse tensioning of the inner lining 12 is also particularly effectively possible here.

Alternatively to the connection to the outer roof part 3 of the convexly curved guide surface, which can be formed to be particularly smooth, a connection can also take place to one of the linkage parts 6, 7, as indicated in FIG. 5. The inner lining 12 is then also pulled into shape over the guide surface 32 on the closing of the roof. An integral design with a connector 6, 7 is also possible. It is not necessary to sew a shaping element to the inner lining 12. Its continuous surface is therefore not interrupted by seams required for this purpose.

A vehicle roof 2 having the named properties for the forming of the inner lining 12 is claimed separately. 

1. A convertible vehicle having a movable roof, which is movably held via lateral linkage parts with respect to a vehicle body and which includes a covering layer, a so-called inner lining, facing the passenger compartment; characterized in that the inner lining is extended at its outer transverse margins up to and below lateral sections, while contacting them, which serve as carriers of seals toward side panes.
 2. A convertible vehicle in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the outer transverse rim of the inner lining engages into a channel of these sections which is directly adjacent to an outer limb of the sections which carries the seal toward side panes.
 3. A convertible vehicle in accordance with claim 1 characterized in that the outer transverse margin of the inner lining has a transverse spacing of less than five millimeters in the transverse direction toward the seal.
 4. A convertible vehicle having a movable roof, which is movably held via lateral linkage parts with respect to a vehicle body and which includes a covering layer, a so-called inner lining, facing the passenger compartment, in particular in accordance with one claim 1 characterized in that the inner lining is extended in a longitudinal region between a front windshield frame and a rear window continuously at its outer transverse margins and without any interruptions of the longitudinal extent up to and below lateral sections which serve as carriers of seals toward side panes.
 5. A convertible vehicle having a movable roof, which is movably held via lateral linkage parts with respect to a vehicle body and which includes a covering layer, a so-called inner lining, facing the passenger compartment, in particular in accordance with claim 1 characterized in that the inner lining is held laterally over at least a part of its longitudinal extent via clamping elements which engage beneath the lateral linkage parts and run around from laterally outwardly.
 6. A convertible vehicle in accordance with claim 5, characterized in that clamping elements engage from the outside into longitudinally extended sections which are carriers of seals to provide a seal toward side panes.
 7. A convertible vehicle in accordance with claim 6, characterized in that the sections have an outer limb to hold the seal and spaced therefrom a further inwardly disposed limb, with the inner limb being engaged beneath by the inner lining and its rim engaging into a channel between the outer limb and the inner limb.
 8. A convertible vehicle in accordance with claim 7, characterized in that clamping elements are formed by pulling cables.
 9. A convertible vehicle in accordance with claim 6 characterized in that clamping elements are guided at the rear side of their engagement into the section to a deflection eyelet and extend from there to a connection in the rear roof region.
 10. A convertible vehicle in accordance with claim 9, characterized in that at least three clamping elements are provided for each transverse outer side over the longitudinal extent of the inner lining.
 11. A convertible vehicle in accordance with one of the claim 1, characterized in that the roof is formed as a retractable hard top (RHT) having a plurality of roof parts which are separate from one another at their outer surface, are each rigid per se and are substantially of plate shape.
 12. A convertible vehicle in accordance with one of the claim 1, characterized in that the roof has at its side facing the passenger compartment at least one arched guide surface in the near region of each transverse margin for shaping contact of the inner lining thereto.
 13. A convertible vehicle in accordance with one of the claim 1, characterized in that the inner lining is movable via the guide surface fixedly connected to the outer skin of the roof or to a linkage part.
 14. A vehicle roof for a convertible vehicle in accordance with one of the claim
 1. 